Day 73 - July 26, 2010 - What's in a Smile?

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief. ~William Shakespeare

Seeing someone smile can be one of the most beautiful sights in the world. Every smile is certainly different. I've come to discover this while working with children. It is a simple gesture to express happiness and pleasure and making others smile is one of life's great joys.

So what happens when a smile becomes more like an accessory than a genuine expression of emotion? I'm as guilty as anybody of smiling to hide how I'm really feeling. Some people are better at masking their emotions than others, but it is usually easy to tell when there is something going on behind a smile.

There are times I smile through pain and sadness. Sometimes I do it because I am trying to heal. Often, I don't want people to worry about me. I am supposed to be strong all of the time... or so I feel. Like it or not, I become sad, angry, confused, and scared sometimes. More than some, I tend to wear my emotions out in the open, but I cannot deny that I sometimes use a smile to placate people.

Those who know me well can tell the difference.